Tristan und Isolde

A piece that changed the history of music

Tristan und Isolde is the culmination of Wagner’s artistic ethos, and is an opera which revolutionised tonal music with its harmonic ambiguity. At the same time, the work musically conveys Arthur Schopenhauer’s nihilistic philosophy. Àlex Ollé’s (La Fura dels Baus) stage direction concentrates on symbolic language, and he does an excellent job of characterising the protagonists. The stage design by Alfons Flores and video projections by Franc Aleu contribute to the realisation of the Wagnerian ideal of a “comprehensive work of art” through the use of images which sustain and highlight the libretto and the score. Iréne Theorin and Stefan Vinke, undisputed victors in the Liceu as Brünnhilde and Siegfried in DerRing des Nibelungen, revisit Barcelona alongside an ideal ensemble for this opera.

Tristan und Isolde

Musical drama in three acts. Libretto and music by Richard Wagner. World premiere: 10/06/1865, Hoftheater of Munic. First staged in Barcelona: 08/11/1899, Liceu. Last performance at the Liceu: 18/03/2015. Total Liceu performances: 171.